“Let me be clear: UC welcomes all students who qualify academically, whether they are documented or undocumented,” says Napolitano, the former U.S. Homeland Security Secretary. “Consider this a down payment—one more piece of evidence of our commitment to all Californians.”

When Napolitano assumed the presidency of the 10-campus university system a month ago, some proponents of immigrant rights assumed that she would take a hard line stance on undocumented students.

But her public actions have been in line with other big university systems like City College of New York, which is viewed by many as a model for how to attract and provide support services to its undocumented students.